Gas-generator.



PATBNTED FEB. 6, 1966.

C. L. PARSONS.

GAS GENERATOR.

APiLIGATIDH FILED JULYQ 7 the generator; third, to

UNITED s'rATEs CHARLES L. PARSONS, {)F DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

GAS-GEN Application filed July 23, 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. PARsoNs, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Durham, in the county of Strall'ord and State ofNew Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Gas-Generator, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to sis-generators, and especially to that class 0%gas-generators wherein the gas is generated by the chemical actionbetween a liquid and a solid, and more particularly to those generatorswherein a i uid is supplied to a stationary granular so id and the flowof the liquid is controlled by the tension of the generated gas.

The objects of m invention are, first, to provide a device W erein thegeneration of gas is automatically controlled by the tension of thegenerated gas; second, to provide a device wherein the waste products ofchemical reaction are automatically removed from rovide a device whereinthe gas may be de ivered at a predetermined constant tension, whichtension may be varied at will; fourth, to provide a device adapted toobtain the full efiiciency of the active agent by causing a relativelysmall quantity of the liquid to flow over a relatively large quantity ofthe solid; fifth, to provide a device wherein fresh and unused liquidmayat all times be supplied to the solid, and ,siXth, to provide adevice wherein the liquid in the supply-reservoir may be replenishedwithout interrupting the generation of gas.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes inthe form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scoe of the claims without departing from t e spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the drawing, which represents the preferred embodiment of myinvention, a tank 1 is shown as provided with an overflow-pipe 2preferably communicating with the tank 1 near the bottom thereof, as at3. This ipe 2 is provided at its upper end with a ent portion 4,adapting) it for use as an overflow, the said portion 4 eing adapted toreceive a flexible tube for conducting away the overflow liquid.

Within the tank 1 is submerged the gas- Specification of Letters Patent.

ERATOR.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

904- serial No. 217,344.

receptacle 5, which is open at its lower end and referably provided withopenings 6 to ernnt of the uninterrupted passage of the iquid from thetank to the receptacle. The receptacle 5 is provided with a hollowcolumn 7, communicating therewith and carrying a perforate support 8,disposed within its lower end and adapted to support a solid materialthereon, as shown at 9. The upperend of the column is closed in anyapproved manner, as by the stopper 10.

On some convenient elevation, as the shelf 11, is dis osed a reservoir12. A vessel 13, with a re uced neck 14, is filled with a liquid andinverted in the reservoir 12. A pipe 15 communicates with the reservoir12 near its bottom and below the level of the neck 14. A pipe 16 piercesthe stop er 10 and is so bent as to form a U-seal, as in icated at 17This pipe is connected with the pipe 15 by flexible tu ing 18. A pipe 19also ierces the stopper 10 and serves as an exit or the generated as. a

The operation of my im roved gasenerator is as follows: The ten 1 beingill ed approximately one-hali full of a liquid, the column 9 is chargedwith the solid, the stopper 10 placed in position, and thegas-receptacle 5 inverted in the tank 1. The liquid in the tank 1 willrise a certain distance within the receptacle 5,but will not contactwith the contained solid 9. The vessel 13 is filled with a li uid andinverted, with its reduced neck 14 within the elevated reservoir 12. Thepipes 15 and 16 are connected by the flexible tube 18, which permits theliquid to flow through the pipe 16 and into contact with the solid 9,

enerating a gas, which asses downward into the receptacle 5. T e tensionof the generated gas forces the liquid through the openings 6 into thetank 1, 1n which it rises, well as in the tube 2, to the level X, whichthe overflow-level of the tank 1. The h ght of the reservoir 12 is soregulated that I the distance between the levels H and I e ual thedistance between the levels X and It is obvious that the tension of thegas within the rece tacle 5 is equal to the weight of a column of iquidof the height XY. .As the wei ht of a column of liquid of the height Iequals the weight of a column of ii uid of the hei ht XY, it is obviousthat w on the level 1 is de ressed to slightly increase the distance Xthe flow of li uid through the ipe 16 will be stopped and t at whenthrough the consumption of gas the level Y is raised. slightly thepressure represented by HI overbalances the pressure represented. by XYand liquid will flow through the pi 1e 16 into contact with the solid 9.The mout 1 of the vessel 13 is disposed at the level H, so that thelevel II is constant relative to the reservoir 12, but may be varied,thus varying the pressure III by raising or lowering the reservoir. Theraising or lowering of the reservoir varying the pressure represent edby HI likewise varies the pressure repre sented by KY, which is themeasure of the tension upon the gas. It is also obvious that the solid 9being contained in a relatively tall column 7 is brou ht into contactwith the limited quantity ogthe liquid. flowing through the pipe 16 to areater extent than would be the case if the so id was disposed over alarger horizontal area. It will also be seen that the liquid flowinthrough the pipe 16 after reacting with t 1e solid carries with it theinert roducts of the reaction, which with the used iquid are depositedin the tank 1 and are discharged through the overflow-pipe 2. It willthus be seen that the tension of the gas at all times equals thepressure represented by HI, which pressure may be varied by raising orlowering the tank 12.

My improved generator may be used for the generation of acetylene by theaction of water upon calcium carbid, or hydro en sulfid by the action ofsulfuric or hydroch oric acid upon iron sulfid, or the cneration ofcarbon dioxid by the action 0' sulfuric or hydrochlorlc acid upon acarbonate, or for the generation of hydrogen gas by the action ofsulfuric or hydrochloric acid upon zinc. Its use is not to beconsidered, however, as being confined to the eneration of the saidases, but may be used for the generation 0 any gas produced by theaction of a liquid upon a solid.

While I have shown my preferred form of apparatus for carrying out myinvention, it is o vious that the several parts thereof ma be varied asto form, proportion, and detai s of construction without de arting fromthe spirit of my invention or tlie scope of the appended claims.

i Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as novel, anddesire to secure by Let- I tcrs Patent, is

1. In a gasgenerator, a tank provided with an overflow communicatingwith said tank adjacent the bottom, a receptacle open at the bottom andclosed at the top disposed within the tank, means within the receptaclefor supporting a solid in granular form and means for supplyin Y aliquid under constant head to the top of tie receptacle.

2. In a gas-generator, a tank adapted to contain a liquid and providedwith an over flow communicating therewith adjacent the bottom, areceptacle open at the bottom and submerged in the tank, a hollowsolidcontaining column open at the bottom, integral with andcommunicating with the said receptacle, a tube provided with a liquidseal and communicating with the column and an elevated reservoiradapted. to supply liquid to the column through the pipe at a constantpressure equal to the normal ressure exerted on the gas by the liquid inthe said tank.

3. In a gas-generator, a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid, a vesselwith a reduced neck inverted in said reservoir, and disposed to form aliquid seal, a pipe connected with the reservoir below the level of thevesselneck and provided with a liquid seal, a tank adapted to contain aliquid and rovided with an overflow communicating tierewith adjacent thebottom, a receptacle open at the ,bottom and submerged in the tank, ahollow solid-containing column open at the bottom and integral with andcommunicating with the said rece tacle and disposed to receive a liquidfrom tlie said ipe and all so disposed that the ressure of t e liquidfrom the reservoir shall equal the pressure of the liquid in the tankand be sustained thereby through the medium of the gas in thereceptacle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. PARSONS. Vv itnesses JAMES D. ROBERTSON, LIZZIE G. THOMPSON.

